Grace and Dolly in Paris

Life is funny.  Especially for some of us creative types.  We'll go for months on end, racing against the clock on some creative bent, inspired to the max, an unstoppable force, then *poof*, nothing.  Its been that way for me for a couple of months now.  Thinking this over doesn't do any good either.  And, I guess for myself, if I'm not inspired, I'd rather read books that will take me places, follow my favorite characters in them, and collect for my favorite dolls.  And, that's what I've been doing.  Well, sure, I've made a few things here and there, but even the ideas I've had in the hopper have been shuffled into corners.  Is this what happens after knocking yourself out sewing for ten years?  Yes, almost to the very date, its been ten years.  At least I can say that I've got a pretty good handle on what I'm doing now, sewing wise.

The last two Club Grace months were completely uninspiring for me.  While some collectors raved over the two offerings, they did nothing for me at all.  Primarily, the outfits offered  

have allowed me to create complimentary clothing for Dolly Dingle, and that's where the fun's been at.  This little doll has such an odd little body that she's very difficult to design and sew for.  Which is a good thing because it stretches me.  Challenges me.

When August's Club Grace came in, I shook my head again, and wondered how this dress for Grace could possibly have anything to do with summer.  But, Grace's dress for August is a mini version of a dress Rachel Hoffman wore in Paris, and means something special to her.  It was a least something I could I felt I could work with to dress Dolly, so I did.  Diana Vining drew an adorable poodle paper doll for us to cut out and assemble, and the box came with some Barbie sized food items like a jar of Nutella, that Rachel tells us is a delicacy in Paris.  There was also a simple patisserie bag to cut out and assemble, so the accessories were well taken care of.  I wanted to play.  I wanted to get out of my sewing lull, especially since I needed to begin sewing gifts for the holidays.  So, Grace and Dolly in Paris. 

After some searching, I found a black cotton fabric with flowers the same hue as the roses in Grace's dress.  With the black stretch jersey I had on hand, and a silk ribbon, I could create something for Dolly.  I worked up a pattern for the top, the bodice, sewed the gathered skirt on, and realized I really needed something beneath the skirt, since I've never made under pants for Dolly, and loathe making under garments.  Tights.  Stockings!  Striped ones.  That's what I'd do!  I've made long stocking socks that would even go thigh high, but never a pair of real tights.  So I got online and looked up Free Tights Patterns for Dolls, and found one I could work with.  So here I was, learning something new after all.  

I gave a couple of whacks at the pattern, sizing it larger at the waist, doll bottom and front to crotch, and had a winner.  Indeed, as described, "perfect fitting tights".  They're made very similarly to a pair of pants, but on stretch jersey, so they are much smaller.  One trick to fitting them to a doll, is to sew up

one leg, put it on the doll and stretch the back and front over her middle to see if there needs adjustments to the pattern.  I was delighted with the results, and now..so long ever thinking about underpants because I can sew tights!

I chose to make a similar dress for Dolly as Grace's, omitting the huge silver zipper that goes up the back of the dress.  I've never understood the allure of this look, although some women just adore it.  And, that's okay.  I'm turning into an old lady at the age of 63 and 11 months!  Phooey on me, right?  

But, I love to play, and all the girls got light blue berets to emphasize the Paris theme.  Diana's Monsieur Murray, the poodle, is a kick!  And, Dolly carries the patisserie bag as well.  I made her bone colored Mary Janes to compliment Grace's tan heels.  These were a bear to make since I had to fashion them over the tights.  These shoes are larger because of this, and even though I sized the shoe pattern to make up for the bulk of the tights, they were still difficult.

So earlier in July, I'd finally purchased, a long sought after American Girl Grand Hotel.  I've been wanting one for Blaire since she's been traveling the world and all over the country for a few months now.  It suits as a doll house for her.  August was the month I chose to dress her in the AG Paris outfit, so the theme of Club Grace simply flowed.  My dear friend, Menno, gifted me the Service Tray for the Grand Hotel as an early birthday gift.  You can see it on her bed.  My "wiggle room" with the beach window scenes, is that there is a Grand Hotel in every popular tourist location, so while Blaire may be dressed in her Paris togs, she can travel to the coast of France in them.

Another thing I've been doing is feeding my passion for vintage Barbie clothing.  This should come as no surprise since I'd made up the reproduction Barbie's Dream House, which gave Barbie a permanent residence.  I finally, FINALLY acquired Outdoor Art Show, and in minty condition, too.  While the outfit is nothing to do somersaults over, its is rare, highly sought after, and is about art.  Ken, of course, needed some new togs to attend the outdoor art show with Barbie, so some followed close behind.

August has always signaled to me, the last days of summer.  I grew up in a time when the school year began the day after Labor Day, or roughly, September 3rd.  I had to allow Barbie and Ken to enjoy the outdoors a bit more, so I collected a barbeque party ensemble for them.  The rare, wiener on the fork that Ken is holding, actually belongs to Skipper's country picnic, which I collected to make a complete set of a few years back.  I found this cute little plastic Barbie barbeque grill, and set the grill and table with Barbie sized food items and tableware.  Could that be Dolly's Murray begging for a wiener?  No.  The poodle from Poodle Parade is Barbie's permanent pet in the Dream House.  I wish I could join them in their tasty cookout!

And, another favorite of mine to collect is Integrity's Poppy Parker.  I must have twenty Poppy Parkers including three of the male dolls.  I was fortunate to get in on the WClub this year, and the two premiere Poppy offerings were Sugar and Spice, a tribute to the 50's, and Ginger and Cinnamon, a holiday gift set featuring Ginger, Poppy's friend, with a record player, mug of cocoa, Christmas albums, and a fuzzy doggy.  Both these gift sets came in between July and August this year. 

Then lo and behold, Happily Ever After was having a sale of some kind, and I once again spotted their Mizi dolls.  Now, I've known about Mizi for awhile, but never gave her much thought, until I saw Ready to Go.  Of course she was sold out at Happily, but I was able to acquire one from Ebay at a decent price.  Mizi may be J & D Fashion's response to Poppy Parker.  I love dolls that do something.  Travel.  Have a story.  And, this is why Ready to Go appealed to me so much - as well as her vintage 1960's look with the hair and mini dress.  The designer suitcase sealed the deal.  Below this photo is Les Mille et une nuits Mizi that I pre-ordered while still browsing at Happily Ever After.  I love the genie look, and the exotic.  I mean, c'mon.  If they arrive and I'm not tickled as punch, I'll list them on Ebay.  But, I think they'll be keepers.  I don't plan to start a Mizi collection as J & D Fashions currently don't make outfits for her, selling only dressed dolls.  Still, I think these two are winners.  They are 12" just like Poppy Parker, but my dolls don't share their clothing.

Here's the free pattern I found on the internet.  I enjoyed making it up, and have given you some tips for making them for one of your dolls, so you may want to right click on this and save it off for the future. I might also add that I lengthened the one toe to match the other.  I can't imagine why the pattern was drawn this way, and myself, had trouble trying to sew it like that.

Dolly's Perfect Fit Tights

The Barbie sized food items in Club Grace.

Its been a good month over all.  Yes, I was sick.  Not with a bug, but some kind of lower intestinal problem.  Terrible cramping.  I even got a Cat Scan to see what might be the problem, but nothing showed up, so when this happens, I go back on broth and Jell-O until it passes.  I call it "old plumbing".  That's the best I can throw at it.  

New fires in the Sierras are popping up all the time now, so to add to the Dixie fire, there's the new one called the Caldor fire near Mormon Immigrant Trail, once pristine Sierra majesty.  This is so sad and so troubling.  The drought and climate change are destroying all the beauty that has grown over the last couple hundred years, and the loss of wildlife is tragic.  Is it any wonder that I have trouble finding my Zen these days?  Our air, our sky overhead is no longer blue, but filled with smoke and ash from the fires in Northern California.  So if sinking myself into a good book allows me some semblance of peace, so be it.  At least Dolly and Grace are enjoying themselves in Paris this month.  

As I mentioned earlier, this was good for me, sitting at the machine again.  I have gifts I need to start sewing, and also because they are gifts, I cannot share them here.  Not until late December anyway, but I am excited about making them.  However, once I get started, and inspired again, there will be wonderful things to share and talk about again.  And, maybe next month's Club Grace will prompt me to sew for Dolly again.  Actually next month is going to be GREAT.  Its birthday month for me, and it has a special theme.  Part of the creative process means that times like this are inevitable.  My love of dolls, my love of talking about dolls and sharing them, is as deep as my love of history, reading, nature, dogs, and EATING good food when I can!

Treasure the last days of summer.  Have your own barbeque party, even if its a party for one or two. The 'bers are approaching, but let's not rush things.  Each day is precious.  And, one more shot of my blue bereted girls.

Love, Melissa